Energy switching to small firms hits new high as complaints rise April 7, 2014 THE NUMBER of customers switching their energy supplier rose by seven per cent in March, with the percentage of switches to a smaller firm hitting a record high of 43 per cent. Industry body Energy UK said that its data, compiled by Electralink, showed that there is greater choice for customers. The big six suppliers [...]
Good Energy’s profits double as its customer base rises sharply April 7, 2014 GOOD Energy, the Aim-quoted renewable energy firm, yesterday reported a 136 per cent rise in full-year profits to £3.3m, as more customers switch from the big six. Good Energy’s electricity customer base went up 25 per cent to 40,000, while its number of gas accounts jumped by 76 per cent to 15,000. “Our rapid customer [...]
Pawn shop H&T makes bid for bankrupt rival April 7, 2014 PAWNBROKER H&T Group yesterday revealed it is bidding to buy assets belonging to its bankrupt rival Albemarle & Bond, after it emerged nine other outfits had bid for the firm. Albemarle & Bond went bust last month after its shares fell 97 per cent due to a decline in the gold price and its overstretched [...]
The Co-operative Group strikes deal to turn 54 pubs into shops April 7, 2014 THE CO-OPERATIVE Group has signed a deal to open 54 convenience stores on sites formerly occupied by Marston’s pubs. Property group NewRiver Retail, which bought 200 pubs in total from Marston’s last year for £90m, will lease the sites to the Co-op over the two years through a phased development programme. The deal will create [...]
Shale gas explorer Dart Energy plans to float on London’s Aim April 7, 2014 DART Energy, one of the few companies that currently has licences to explore for shale gas in the UK, is planning to float on London’s Aim next month. The firm, which is already listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, expects to be admitted to Aim on 12 May, as it looks to broaden its investor [...]
Foxtons chief exec takes leave April 7, 2014 Property agency Foxtons said yesterday its chief executive Michael Brown would be taking compassionate leave, and that its chairman and chief financial officer would work closely to ensure the smooth running of the business. The company declined to comment further on the length of Brown’s leave. Foxtons has had a strong stock market performance since [...]
SABMiller shakes up Africa staff April 7, 2014 SABMiller said yesterday that Norman Adami, chairman of its South African business, will retire from the brewer in July. On 1 July, the South African business will be consolidated with the rest of Africa, and will be overseen by Mark Bowman, currently managing director of SABMiller Africa. Mauricio Leyva, currently managing director of beer for [...]
Post Office offers 95pc mortgage April 7, 2014 The Post Office yesterday unveiled its new range of mortgages using the Help to Buy loan guarantee scheme. Using the government support it will offer 95 per cent mortgages to house buyers with small deposits saved up. Its two-year loans will be on offer with an interest rate beginning at 4.95 per cent. The new [...]
Spain’s industry grows at fastest pace since 2010 April 7, 2014 SPANISH industrial production sped up significantly in the year to February, rising by 2.8 per cent, more than twice as fast as January’s pace and the best reading in more than three years. Despite the improvement, Spain’s industrial production is still relatively low compared to 2010 levels, down by nearly a tenth. Victor Echevarria of [...]
Japan and Australia sign off on trade ahead of new Pacific deal April 7, 2014 THE JAPANESE and Australian governments finalised the foundations of their free trade deal yesterday, ahead of the much broader Trans-Pacific Partnership (known as TPP). Negotiations for the deal have dragged on, having first begun under a previous Australian government in 2007. The deal ends the remaining major tariffs between the two countries: levies by the [...]
